Construction of bureaus



2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

EQP. LUR KE R. CONSTRUCTION OF BUREAUS, &c.

Patented Oct. 18, 1892.

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UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

EDWARD P. LURKER, OF EVANSVILLE, INDIANA.

CONSTRUCTION OF BUREAUS, 80C.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 484,662, dated October 18, 1892.

Application filed May 14,1892- Serial No. 432,997- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD P. LURKER, of Evansville, in the county of Vanderburg and State of Indiana, have invented new and useful Improvements in the Construction of Enreaus and Similar Articles, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention is an improvement in the construction of bureaus, dressingcases, chiffoniers, and similar furniture-cases which are provided with sliding drawers.

The novelty consists in the construction and combination of parts hereinafter described,

' whereby the adjustment of the front partingrails and the side-drawer bearers is provided for, as herein described.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar figures of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure l is a front elevation, partly in vertical section, of a bureau showing my I improved construction. Fig. 2 is a cross-section of the same on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a broken inside perspective view, partly in section and taken from the rear, showing the skeleton of a bureau; and Fig. 4 is an inverted plan of the bureau.

In the drawings I have illustrated a bureau to show my improved construction, but it will be understood that any similar article may be made in the same way. The bureau 10 is provided with front stiles or posts 11 of substantially the usual kind, these being arranged vertically at the front corners of the bureau, and the ends of the bureau are formed in substantially the usual way, the ends, as shown in the drawings, being made up of vertical pieces 12, the cross-pieces l3, dovetailed into the pieces 12, and the middle panels 14; but they may be made in any suitable way. Extending horizontally across the front of the bureau between the stiles 11 are the front partingrails 15, which are notched or rabbeted at the ends, as shown at 16, so as to fit snugly upon the stiles and bring the front edges of the rails flush with the front of the stiles, and the rails have on their under sides stops 17 to engage the drawer-fronts and limit the inward movement of the drawers 18, which are of substantially the usual kind. The rails 15 near their ends and on the rear side are grooved longitudinally, as shown at 19, so as to receive the tongue 20 on the front ends of the drawer-bearers 20 and permit the adjustment of the bearers and rails in relation to each other. The bearers 20 extend horizontally through the bureau at the ends and are adapted to support the drawers 18.

The back of the bureau islnade up of a series of strips 22, which may be arranged either horizontally or vertically, which are tongued and grooved together, and their edges are left perfectly straight, as shown in the drawings. The bearers 20 are supported at their front ends by glue-blocks 24, which are glued into the front corners of the bureau, and the rear ends of the bearers are supported by similar blocks 25, which are glued into the rear corners of the bureau.

When the strips 22 are arranged horizontally, the top edge of a strip should come opposite the bearing-surface of each bearer 20, this being for the purpose of facilitating the building up of the bureau, as hereinafter described. The top 23 is secured to the bureau in the usual way. The bottom 26 of the bureau is fastened beneath the lower bearers 20 and supported by the caster-blocks 27, which are glued into the corners of the bureau beneath the bottom, and these blocks provide supports for the casters 28.

The bureau is put together in the following way: A pair of ends, with the front stiles 11 previously glued on, are placed with the front edges down upon supports. The upper parting-rail15 is placed between the ends even with the top edge of the ends and clamped and glued in place. A small nail is then driven in the back of the parting-rail above or below the groove 19 into the front stile to make a good joint and allow the glue to set. Next glue is placed upon the bearers at the tenons or tongues 20 and the bearers are fastened in place, the top of the upper bearers being flush with the top of the ends 13. Now a drawer is placed next to the parting-rail and drawerbearers, and then the second parting-rail is placed with its set of bearers and fastened as before, this operation being carried on until provision is made for the required number of drawers. The back is next placed in position and secured by driving a small nail through each strip or rail 22 into the bureau ends. The

bureau is then turned up and the top 23 nailed on. It is then laid upon its back, the base 10 is secured to the lower parting-rail, the bottom 26 is placed in position and secured by the caster-blocks, which are glued in place, as described. The glue-blocks 24 and 25 are lastly inserted, and they serve to support the bearers, so that they will not be displaced. The drawers are all made of a size, and consequently but one drawer is necessary in making a bureau or similar case.

It will be seen that in constructing'the case or bureau in the manner described the entire device is finished. at one handling, and consequently but little room is necessary to manufacture bureaus or similar cases in this way, andthey may be rapidly turned out. It will also be noticed that the parting-rails 15 may be adjusted both vertically and laterally, and consequently the rails may be adjusted to the drawers when the bureau is built, so as to insure a perfect fit, and this is still further provided for in the manner of attaching the bottom. As the bottom is attached after the drawers are fitted, it may be adjusted up or down, so as to prevent excessive play.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- In a bureau or similar case,in combination, the front stiles 11, the parting-rails 15, having their ends rabbeted to fit upon the said stiles, whereby such rails are adapted for vertical adjustment on the stiles, said rails being, also, provided with horizontal extended grooves 19, the drawer-bearers 20, having tenons fitting, such grooves and adapted for lateral movement therein, and the face-pieces l2 and 13, all arranged substantially as shown, and for the purpose described.

EDWARD P. LURKER.

Witnesses:

PH. NONWEILER, JESSE WEIL. 

